Grab all gripping anchor

ABSTRACT

An anchor that operates in a 360 degree direction regardless of the marine environment. A swiveling and/or rotating anchor. The anchor is able to rotate with its arms/flukes and shank. The arms/flukes are fastened to the anchor shank. The anchor comprises a shank having a forward and a rear end with a plurality of arms/flukes secured to the shank and/or crown. The plurality of arms/flukes are secured to the shank by a fluke mounting element or the shank itself. The plurality of arms/flukes are radically oriented and angularly spaced apart and positioned on the fluke mounting element or the shank itself.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to anchors for marine use and other aquaticuses, and in particular, to anchors having multiple arms/flukeselements.

[0003] 2. Description of related art: Many different anchor types havebeen proposed and implemented for holding a boat in a particular placeby means of arms/flukes which dig into the bottom of an ocean, lake, orriver. Numerous shapes of anchors have been proposed including grapnel,“A” frame, yachtsman's, mushroom, SMC, Danforth, CQR, Claw, Bruce,Spade, Delta, Plough, Bulwagga, Hooker, Guardian, and Fortress.

[0004] One serious limitation of prior anchors is that they have atendency to slide, roll and/or drag in the direction of a sideways pull,such as which may occur with a shift of wind, tides, or currents. Suchslide, roll and/or drag is often the precursor of one or both of thearms/flukes breaking out of the sea floor. Often the anchor in suchsituations fails to reset itself and skates along on the edge of onefluke and/or the shackle end of the shank. The anchor rode can becomeentangled around the arms/flukes and/or shank making the anchorineffective.

[0005] Although there have been prior attempts to solve the problem ofanchor rolling and breakout by providing various modifications andaccessories to conventional anchors, all such attempts have beencumbersome, unreliable, and ill-suited for serious use. Such limitationshave undoubtedly been a reason such anchor modifications have notreceived widespread acceptance.

[0006] It is of critical importance for an anchor to have the ability tocatch and grab on uneven ground. The present invention provides a verysimple yet extremely efficient and reliable solution to such limitationsin prior anchors.

[0007] Accordingly, it is the primary objective of this invention toprovide an anchor with a plurality of radially oriented and angularlyspaced arms/flukes which are combined to provide quick and considerablegrip and holding power through all degrees. Because of the Grab AllGripping Anchor unique configuration, the anchor of the presentinvention also has a minimum level of dragging and fouling when pivotingand/or swinging with the change of tides, winds, and currents.

[0008] Additional objectives and advantages of the invention will be setforth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious fromthe description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjectives and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtainedby means of the instrumentality's and combinations particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] To achieve the foregoing objectives and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein ananchor comprising a shank having a forward and a rear end with aplurality of arms/flukes secured to the rear end of the shank and/or theshank itself. The plurality of arms/flukes are secured to the shank by afluke mounting element and/or the shank itself. The plurality of thearms/flukes are radially oriented and angularly spaced apart andpositioned on the fluke mounting element and/or the shank itself Aplurality of arms/flukes elements are radially aligned and oriented withrespect to each other.

SPECIFICATIONS BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in andconstitute a part of the specifications, illustrate a preferredembodiment of the invention and together with a general descriptiongiven above and the detailed description of the preferred embodimentgiven below, serve to in the principles of the invention.

[0012]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the Grab All Gripping Anchor,according to the invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 shows a side view of such anchor, according to theinvention.

[0014]FIG. 3 shows a top view of such anchor, according to theinvention.

[0015]FIG. 4 shows a partial side view of the end portion of thearms/flukes elements, according to the invention.

[0016]FIG. 5 shows a partial top view of the end of an arms/flukeselement, according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

[0018] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided ananchor 10 comprising a shank 12 having a forward and a rear end with aplurality of arms/flukes 18 secured to the shank 12. The plurality ofarms/flukes 18 are secured to the shank 12 by a fluke mounting element20 or to the shank 12 itself. The plurality of arms/flukes 18 areradially oriented and angularly spaced apart and positioned on the flukemounting element 20 and/or the shank 12 itself. A plurality ofarms/flukes 18 elements are radially aligned and oriented with respectto each other. The arms/flukes 18 may be provided in a fixed oradjustable configuration.

[0019] In FIG. 1, the Grab All Gripping Anchor 10 is shown according toa preferred embodiment of the invention. The anchor 10 includes a shank12 with a forward end 14 and a rear end 16. Shank 12 may be variouslyconfigured, for example, cylindrical or rectangular, rotatable, or otherconfigurations well known in the art. A plurality of arms/flukes 18 aresecured to the shank 12 and/or a fluke mounting element 20, sometimesreferred to in the art as an anchor crown 20, which may be variouslyconfigured and shaped and provided, for example as a expanded likemember as shown, or alternatively, be a fastening element for securingarms/flukes 18 to the shank 12. Examples of fastening elements include aweld, a moulded one piece unit, bolts, screws or the like. However, theconfiguration as seen in FIG. 1 or similarly, is preferred.

[0020] The plurality of arms/flukes 18 as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 arepreferably radially oriented with respect to shank 12, and angularlyspaced apart and positioned on a fluke mounting element 20 oralternatively to the shank 12 itself. The arms/flukes 18 can be mountedas shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 or mounted separately, or in conjunctionwith or in any combination with the shank 12 and/or crown 20 mountingelement.

[0021] The arms/flukes 18 are preferably composed of a durable resilientmaterial such as metal, however a variety of materials can be used.Numerous and various arms/flukes 18 configurations may be altereddepending on the embodiment. The preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS.1, 2, and 3.

[0022] As seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 a plurality of arms/flukes 18elements are radially aligned and oriented with respect to the shank 12and each other, and preferably one arm/fluke 18 element is aligned withthe plurality of another arm/fluke 18 element. In different embodiments,however, it is possible to have some arms/flukes 18 without acorresponding arms/flukes element or to have some or all of thearms/flukes elements not in corresponding alignment with each other.

[0023] With reference to FIG. 4, a preferred configuration of anarm/fluke 18 element is shown. In this configuration a pointed tip 19,sometimes referred to in the art as a bill or pea 19, a substantiallytriangular or pointed end 19 is provided. The bill/pea 19 can be pointedand/or rounded. A pointed bill/pea 19 is the preferred embodiment.

[0024] The preferred embodiment of the gussets 21 is stationary in thisconfiguration. In other embodiments the gussets 21 could be hingedand/or moveable allowing the arms/flukes 18 to be collapsible and/ormoveable. Additional preferred embodiment would be with a U-ring 11 atthe end of the shank 12 and/or crown 20.

[0025] The preferred embodiment is having the arms/flukes 18 permanentlyattached to the shank 12 and/or flude mounting element 20 and parallelto each other. However, in different embodiments the arms/flukes 18could swivel and/or rotate around the shank 12 in whole or in part inconjunction with one another or independently.

[0026] With reference to FIG. 5 the preferred configuration andarrangement of the arms/flukes 18 is shown. Additional configurationscan include curved or multi shaped arms/flukes 18 elements. Manyconfigurations of arms/flukes 18 elements are possible. Of criticalimportance is radial orientation and positioning of the plurality ofarms/flukes 18 elements about the shank 12, which provides significantgripping and holding power by the use of multiple arms/flukes 18elements in a radial configuration. The arms/flukes 18 as well as thecrown 20 and gussets 21 can be of any number and/or geometrical shapeand/or size. The preferred geometrical embodiment of the arms/flukes 18is triangular towards the bill/pea 19.

[0027] In operation and use The Grab All Gripping Anchor is used likeany other anchor. The Grab All Gripping Anchor is extremely versatile,reliable, easy to use, easy to transport, store and set, and highlyefficient in gripping and grabbing the sea bottom to hold a boat inposition. The preferred method/use would be with a swivel and/or swivelshackle attaching an all chain rode to top of the shank 14. In use,anchor 10 is used like any conventional anchor. However, because of theconfiguration of multiple arms/flukes 18 elements, very quick grippingand holding power is provided while also having a minimal level ofdragging and fouling when pivoting and/or swinging with changes inwinds, tides and currents. The plurality of multiple arms/flukes 18allows for arms/flukes 18 to be constantly grabbing the sea bed. Thesequalities provide for security while at anchor. Anchor 10 will remainset securely or reset quickly after swinging at anchor.

[0028] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur tothose skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspect is,therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatusand illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departuresmay be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scopeof the applicant's general inventive concept.

What is claimed:
 1. An anchor, comprising of: a shank having an upperend and a lower end, and defining a shank axis. a plurality ofarms/flukes secured to said shank, said plurality of arms/flukes beingsecured to said shank by a fluke mounting element and/or the shankitself. a plurality of arms/flukes being radically oriented with respectto said shank axis, and angularly spaced apart from each other. aplurality of arms/flukes elements separate and/or in conjunction withrespect to said shank axis, and angularly and radially oriented alignedin any combination with said shank element and/or crown element. aplurality of radially aligned arms/flukes can be independently ordependently adjustable and/or moveable on the fluke mounting elementand/or shank element, and are positioned and configured so that each ofsaid plurality of arms/flukes elements are or could be aligned with oneof said plurality of arms/flukes elements. a self regulating physicalsystem operating in a 360 degree direction that provides a constantand/or stable anchor-point in the seabed, regardless of the change inthe marine environment.